Sled



J. G. REGAN Nov. 27 1923.

SLED

Filed Nov. 18 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 27, 1923.

J. G. REGAN SLED Filed Nov. 18 1 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 27,1923.

ETED STATES 30511 G. REGAN, (3E llE'W'EORl", KENTUGKY.

SLED.

Application filed November 18, 1921.' Serial no. 516,909.

To all whom may; concern: I

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. REGAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Newport, in the county of Camp- 6 bell andState of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sleds,of which the following is a specification.

An object of my invention is to provide a steering device forsleds,which will automatically resume an inoperative position when releasedfrom the influence of the operator.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a device of the typereferred to, wherein the steering member or rudder will automaticallyassume a position in alignment with the normal line of motion of a sledwhen the rudder is out of control of an operator.

Another object is to provide a device that is simple and eflicient inconstruction, and operation. 1

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein anddisclosed in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sled, having mounted upon it asteering device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional View in line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is an inverted plan view of a rudder and its mounting means, allof which form details of my invention.

7 Fig. d, is a sectional view in line 44 of Fig. 2. s

Fig. 5, is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modifiedconstruction.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7, is an enlarged perspective of a rudder and its mounting, all ofwhich form details of my invention.

-My invention comprises a bar a, which may be mounted upon the bodysupports a and 0. one each of which supports is mounted at the oppositesides of the sled A,

and part of which supports are bent upon themselves to form runners aand a The supports a and (6 may be secured upon one another in spacedrelation by any suitable means such as cross members a". Suitable slatsall form the body or bed of the sled. The bar a has a central slot orperforation dill a the axis of which slot extends in a substantiallyvertical plane. A band a is mounted. upon the supports a and a andextends transversely of the sled below the bar a. The bar and the bandare secured upon these supports a and a by any suitable means such asbolts a The band a. has a bore a in alignment with the'slot a in the bara. A sleeve or tube- (6 is formed on the lower side of the bandconcentric with the bore a. A slot (6 is formed diametrically throughthe tube, said slot extending longitudinally of the sled. The lower endsof the tube sections are cut away along spiral lines extending about thetube in a common direction wherefore the noses a" formed upon. the twohalves of the tube are disposed diametrically opposite one another. Ashaft (6 extends reciprocally through the bores in the bar and the band,its opposite ends projecting above. the bar and below the band. Theupper end of the shaft has a handle a formed upon it, and the lower endof the shaft has mounted upon it a rudder awhich may enter the slotsformed in the sleeve. A brace (L18 may have its opposite ends securedupon the cross member a and upon the body of the sled and have formed init a slot (4 through which the shaft a may extend. A spring a is mountedupon the shaft 0: and its opposite ends abut the handle a and a washeror collar a" in engagement upon the upper surface of the brace a.

Although I have shown the bar a with a slot a of a size sufiicient topermit the spring a to extend through, it is readily apparent that acollar may be mounted upon the shaft a below the bar (2, upon whichcollar the upper end of the spring may engage, thereby giving to theshaft the additional support incident to a reduced bore a, the walls ofwhich bore will support the shaft.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the sleeve 6 is formed froma fiat plate, which has been stamped so as to provide the ribs or lugsb, b and Z)", and has notches 6 cut in its one end, which, when theplate is given a cylindrical form, provide the piral faces 6 The sleeveextends into the slot 6 formed in the bar 5 and the lug Z) abuts thebar. The lug 6 extends into the way 79 extending thru the cylinder, andserves as a bearing for the shaft 5 and as an abutment for the spring 6The band 6 has a bore 5 and the brace 6 has a bore 6 thru which boresthe lower end of the sleeve may be inserted. The lug b limits the extentto which the sleeve may extend thru the band and brace, wherefore thisstructure provides a firm, sup-port for the lower end of the sleeve andprecludes separation of the sleeve from the several other elements. Thebar may be depressed to permit the handle-b to lie below the body or bedof the sled when the rudder is in its operative position. The band isgiven a structure such that the progress of the sled will not be impededbecause of the band engaging the snow for any extended distance. Theslot 9 and I)" in the bar and band respectively permit mounting of thedevice on sleds of varying widths.

The lower end of the shaft 1) carries an apron Z) of a substantially Ushape, between the arms b and 5 of which the rudder 6 may be inserted.The apron is riveted to the shaft and the rudder is riveted to theapron, wherefore the rudder can be readily replaced by knocking out therivets 6 In the operation of my device an operator would bear down uponthe handle a so as to disengage the rudder from the sleeve wherefore therudder is brought in contact with the snow or the way over which thesled is traveling. By manipulating the rudder the sled may be guided inits path. When the pressure on the handle is released, the spring willelevate the rudder and bring it into engagement with the sleeve. Thelower spiral ends of the sleeve Will cause the rudder to turn upon itsaxis so that it will assume a position in the slot o in alignment withthe normal line of movement of the sled, thereby oifering no resistanceto the sleds passage over the snow.

hat I claim is:

1. The combination of a sled, a cross bar, a band spaced from the crossbar, the bar and band having aligned vertical bores, a shaft mountedreciprocally in the bores, a rudder on the lower end of the shaft, ahandle on the upper end of the shaft, a spring mounted on the shaft, theopposite ends of the spring abutting the band and the handle. and aslotted sleeve having a bore in alignment with the bores in the band andbar. the slot in the sleeve extending longitudinally of the sled and inwhich the rudder is adapted to seat.

2. The combination of a sled, a cross bar, a band spaced from the crossbar, the bar and band having aligned vertical bores, a shaft mountedreciprocally in the bores, a rudder on the lower end of the shaft, ahandle on the upper end of the shaft, a spring mounted on the shaft, theopposite ends of the spring abutting the band and the handle, and aslotted sleeve having a bore in alignment with the bores in the band andbar. the slot in the sleeve extending longitudinally of the sled and inWhich the rudder is adapted to seat, the sleeve having spiral lower endsextending in a common direction from the slot in the tube.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th dayof November, 1921.

JOHN G. REGAN.

